Elizabeth Lynch

A quick fix?: Statins are set to become more widely prescribed. Elizabeth Lynch investigates the pros and cons

: Recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence say more people with high cholesterol levels should be prescribed statins. But some professionals have reservations. Currently 2 million people in England and Wales take statins. This figure will rise to 3.3 million with the change in threshold for statin treatment. The threshold for considering statin use has changed from a 30 per cent ten-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease to a 20 per cent or more risk. Statins in low dosage are available over the counter.